Bright Futures Student Handbook - Coral Reef High School

2016-17

Bright Futures Student Handbook

Chapter 1: Initial Eligibility Requirements

Office of Student Financial Assistance Florida Department of Education 7/1/2016

Chapter 1: Initial Eligibility Requirements

Table of Contents

Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA).......................................................................................................... 2 General Requirements..................................................................................................................................... 2 Specific Requirements for the Scholarships .................................................................................................... 3

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS).................................................................................................................. 3 Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) ................................................................................................................ 3 Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) ........................................................................................................... 6 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC) ? New for 2016-17 High School Graduates ................................................ 7 Non-Traditional Students ................................................................................................................................ 8 Home-Educated (HE) Students .................................................................................................................... 8 General Educational Development (GED) Students .................................................................................... 9 Out-of-State (OOS) Students ..................................................................................................................... 10 Mid-Year Graduates .................................................................................................................................. 11 Sending Electronic Transcripts .................................................................................................................. 11 Notification of Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 12 Deferment of the Scholarship ....................................................................................................................... 12 Website Addresses ........................................................................................................................................ 13 OSFA Mailing Address.................................................................................................................................... 14

The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is governed by the following statutes and rule.

Florida Statutes State Board of Education Rule

s. 1009.53 ? s. 1009.538 6A-20.028

These eligibility requirements are subject to change with each legislative session.

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Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA)

Students must APPLY for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation. If a student does not apply for the scholarship by the deadline, a student cannot receive the scholarship! All eligibility requirements must be met by high school graduation, but scores of ACT?/SAT?/P.E.R.T. tests taken through June 30 are accepted for evaluation purposes.

After submitting the FFAA, the student is responsible for tracking application and award status online and keeping the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) informed of any demographic or institutional changes.

The Bright Futures Scholarship will renew automatically each year (up to the scholarship limit) if the student maintains the required GPA and earns the required credit hours. See Chapter 3: `Renewing Your Award' for more details.

General Requirements

? Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the student's postsecondary institution.

? Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation.

? Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent from a Florida public high school or a registered Florida Department of Education (FDOE) private high school.

? Not have been found guilty of, or pled nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of Clemency.

? Be accepted by and enroll in a degree or certificate program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution.

? Be enrolled for at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term.

? If not funded in the academic year immediately following high school graduation, apply within two years of high school graduation to have your award reinstated. (Please refer to `Reinstatement Requirement' section of Chapter 3 for more information regarding the reinstatement process.) (Please refer to the `Deferment of the Scholarship' section at the end of this chapter concerning students who enlist in the military or engage in a full-time religious or service obligation after graduation.)

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Specific Requirements for the Scholarships

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)

Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)

Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) award or the Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:

? Graduate high school from a Florida public high school with a Florida Standard Diploma (high school graduation requirements), graduate from a registered Florida Department of Education private high school, earn a GED, complete a Home Education program, or graduate from a non-Florida high school (OOS);

? Complete the required high school coursework; ? Achieve the required minimum high school grade point average (GPA); ? Achieve the required minimum score on either the ACT? or SAT? college entrance exam; and ? Complete the required number of service hours.

Type

16 High School Course Credits 1

High School College Entrance Exams

Weighted GPA

(ACT?/SAT?)

Service Hours

4 - English

(three must include substantial writing)

FAS

4 - Mathematics

3.50

(at or above the Algebra I level)

3 - Natural Science

(two must have substantial laboratory)

3 - Social Science

FMS

2 - World Language

3.00

(sequential, in same language)

29/1290

100 hours

26/1170

75 hours

1 The required coursework aligns with the State University System admission requirements found in regulation 6.002.

High School Course Credits

For both scholarships, the required coursework aligns with the State University System admission requirements. The world language requirement can be met by demonstrating proficiencies based on scores on Credit-By-Exam Equivalencies or other university approved means. Otherwise, the high school transcript must include a world language "completer" course to show that the world language requirement has been met. Please refer to the Bright Futures Course Table for specific information on which courses count toward FAS/FMS requirements.

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High School GPA

Evaluation for Bright Futures includes an unrounded weighted high school GPA (calculated to two decimal places) in the 16 college-preparatory credits. The following courses are weighted .25 per semester course or .50 per year course in the calculation of the GPA: Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-International Baccalaureate (Pre-IB), International Baccalaureate (IB), Honors, PreAdvanced International Certificate of Education (Pre-AICE), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) or academic Dual Enrollment. For example, whereas an `A' equals 4 quality points for an un-weighted course, an `A' would equal 4.5 quality points for a weighted course.

If necessary, students may use two additional credits from courses in the above academic areas, or from AP, IB, or AICE fine arts courses to raise their GPA.

College Entrance Exams The College Board introduced a new entrance exam (Redesigned SAT?) beginning March 2016.

? The SAT? (SAT administered prior to March 2016) combined score is the sum of the best Critical Reading and Math scores from any test sitting of this version of the `Old' SAT?.

? The Redesigned SAT? (SAT administered beginning March 2016) combined score is the sum or the best Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math from any test sitting of this version of the `New' SAT?.

? The ACT? composite score is the average of the best scores across the four subject area sections from any test sitting: English, Math, Reading and Science. Composite scores ending in 0.50 will be rounded up to the next whole number.

? The ACT?/SAT? exams may be taken an unlimited number of times through June 30 of the student's graduation year (or through January 31 for mid-year graduates).

? Request test scores be sent to one of Florida's 12 state universities, Florida state colleges (public community colleges), or public high schools when registering for the ACT?/SAT? so that test scores will be sent to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) repository.

Service Hours Students must complete volunteer service hours during high school and by high school graduation. Service hours may include, but are not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours must be documented in writing, and signed by the student, the student's parent or guardian, and a representative of the organization. Each public school district and private school establishes approved activities and the process for documentation of service hours.

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